Is it possible the flares could have an expiration date on how long they can be stored and still be effective? And this may be the most productive way to rid the plane of the expired flares also while creating an awesome effect that could be used as a recruiting poster?

The thing I don't like about these is that they're entirely for show. In real operations the plane will never release more than four or five flares and it will do so one at a time based on which direction the threat is coming from. I'd rather see that and not some aircrew flying around wasting flares and money for a photo op.

The cloud pictured above resulted from a series of flares released by an air force jet over the Atlantic Ocean in May. The jet that released the flares, a C-17 Globemaster III, is seen on the right. The flares release smoke and the resulting pattern is sometimes known as a smoke angel. The circular eyes of the above smoke angel are caused by air spiraling off the plane's wings and are known as wingtip

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